PLAYERS TO WATCH
–RB Myles Gaskin missed games on Oct. 20 and Oct. 27 against Colorado and Cal, but surged back into the lineup with 148 yards on a healthy 5.3-yards per carry clip Nov. 3 against Stanford. He faces an Oregon State defense that gave up season-highs in rushing to USC’s Aca’Cedric Ware, Arizona’s J.J. Taylor and Arizona State’s Eno Benjamin.
–QB Jake Browning makes his farewell start at Husky Stadium on Saturday. While Browning’s individual statistics have gone through ups and downs, his four years as Washington’s QB have produced 36 wins and a Pac-12 championship, with a shot at another.
–LB Tevis Bartlett’s production has picked up in the latter half of the season, beginning with a 12-tackle performance Oct. 13 at Oregon. Bartlett has made 32 of his 62 tackles in the last four games, and his increased productivity will be key in Washington slowing down Oregon State RB Jermar Jefferson.
–DB Keith Taylor has come on strong late in the season, finding his way into the loaded Washington secondary as a result of Jordan Miller sustaining an injury Oct. 20. Taylor has a pass break-up in each of the Huskies’ last three games.
SERIES HISTORY: Washington leads the all-time series with Oregon State, 64-34-4, and has won the last six straight. The Huskies’ average margin of victory against the Beavers since 2013 is 34 points per game.
QUOTE TO NOTE: “That’s the one thing I’ve learned about college football: There (are) so many politics involved. Everybody’s trying to defend their turf. You get a little bit of a glimpse of what it’s like in Congress. Everybody’s trying to protect themselves and look out for their own interests.” — UW coach Chris Petersen on the College Football Playoff system
